Remote laboratory

ABSTRACT

Teaching apparatus, which includes an experimental setup ( 50 ) at a laboratory site ( 32 ) and a teaching setup at a teaching facility ( 12 ) remote from the laboratory site. The laboratory site includes one or more experimental controls ( 38 ) for varying one or more parameters of an experiment performed by the experimental setup, one or more monitoring device ( 42, 44 ) which capture information relating to the experiment, and a first communications interface ( 34 ) which couples the experimental controls and monitoring devices to a network ( 28 ). The teaching setup includes a second communication interface ( 22 ) coupled to exchange data via the network with the first communication interface, a display ( 26 ) which receives and displays the information captured by the one or more monitoring device, and a physical representation ( 16 ) of at least a part of an experimental setup, including at least one of the experimental controls, so that an operator ( 14 ) at the teaching facility controls an aspect of an experiment at the laboratory site using the physical representation, and receives results of the experiment by means of the display.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to science laboratories, andspecifically to laboratories for the purposes of teaching a scientifictopic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laboratories for teaching science topics to students at school andcollege have been an integral part of teaching pedagogy for at least acentury. Amongst other aims, teaching laboratories have served thepurpose of giving physical reality to theoretical concepts, and haveenabled students to become proficient practically as well astheoretically.

In a teaching environment, laboratories demand a relatively largeportion of the education budget, from a number of points of view. At thedesign and construction phases a laboratory has to be purpose-built,with specific facilities, compared to a general purpose class room orlecture hall. Once up and running, the laboratory has to be maintained,for example, equipment has to be bought and/or renewed. In many schoolsituations laboratories are a bottleneck in preparing a timetable, sinceone laboratory may have to serve many classes and a number of grades.

With the advent of distance learning, problems caused by lack oflaboratory facilities have been exacerbated. The problems have beensomewhat alleviated by home experiments, often performed withspecialized kits, or by students spending a portion of their course timeat a laboratory away from their home. However, distance learning, andthe growth of networks such as the Internet, have also generated theidea of a remote laboratory, i.e., one which is accessible from a homeor a location remote from the laboratory.

Carnegie Mellon University operates a remote laboratory which allowsstudents within the university framework to access remote electricalengineering experiments. The experiments comprise a circuit measurementprocedure and a motor control experiment, both of which areinteractively performed by students with a computer over a localnetwork.

Oxford University, England, has a Chemistry Information TechnologyCenter which allows students to carry out interactive simulationexperiments over the Internet. These experiments are performed bystudents with a computer interacting via the Internet with theexperiment.

The Yorkshire and Humberside Universities Association, England, hasproposed developing a shared virtual learning environment comprising oneor more remote laboratories. In their proposal, which can be found athttp://www2.dcs.hull.ac.uk/SVLE/svlerept.html and which is incorporatedherein by reference, they point out some of the problems involved withvirtual or remote laboratories. Problems foreseen include the risk thatstudents will be only “virtually educated,” and that “a keyboard andmouse cannot offer the same ‘feel’ as real equipment.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to providemethods and apparatus for an improved remote laboratory.

It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention toprovide methods and apparatus for improvement of the verisimilitude of aremote laboratory.

It is a yet further object of some aspects of the present invention toprovide methods and apparatus for an operator to be able to operate anexperimental setup which is hazardous or inaccessible to the operator.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an experiment isset up in a remote laboratory at a location physically distant from alocal facility wherein an experiment operator performs the experiment.The operator is able to perform the experiment by communicating with theremote laboratory, preferably by communicating via an industry-standardcomputer in the operator's location, over a distributed network such asthe Internet. Most preferably, communication from the operator comprisescommands which alter parameters of the experiment. Additionally oralternately, communication from the operator comprises commands whichenable the operator to remotely control experiment-monitoringinstrumentation, such as one or more video cameras, which transmitinformation concerning an overall state of the experiment.

Communication from the operator comprises the operator using one or morelocal physical controls which simulate and act as controllers forrespective remote physical controls within the remote laboratory. Theone or more local physical controls comprise a physical representationof at least a part of an experimental setup at the remote laboratory,which representation is most preferably substantially identical inappearance and operation to the actual setup. The controls are used toadjust respective parameters of the remote experiment and/or theexperiment-monitoring instrumentation, by correspondingly adjustingtheir respective remote controls. By using local physical controls, ascompared to local simulated controls, the realism of the experimentperformed at the local facility is significantly enhanced, so that theoperator using the local physical controls is better able to understandand operate the experimental setup. Furthermore, the operator is able toperform experiments using equipment that may be hazardous orinaccessible in a local facility.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, data from theexperiment is presented to the operator via a graphic user interface.Preferably, the interface comprises a real-time video image of theexperimental setup at the remote facility, as well as controls whichenable the operator to alter settings of the controls using a computerpointing device such as a mouse. In some preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the operator in the local facility is able to accessseparately a plurality of remote experimental setups, preferably byusing a menu included in the graphic interface. Most preferably, theplurality of remote experimental setups are located at a single remotefacility. Alternatively, the plurality of experimental setups arelocated at two or more remote facilities.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a secondoperator is able to access the remote facility and observe theexperiment performed by the first operator. Optionally, the secondoperator is able to control at least some of the instrumentation at theremote facility, for example to adjust some of the experiment-monitoringinstrumentation. Alternatively, the second operator has physicalcontrols local to the second operator, which controls adjust differentexperimental parameters at the remote facility from those adjusted bythe first operator, and the two operators cooperate in performing theexperiment at the remote facility.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention, teaching apparatus, including:

an experimental setup at a laboratory site including:

one or more experimental controls for varying one or more parameters ofan experiment performed by the experimental setup;

one or more monitoring devices, which capture information relating tothe experiment; and

a first communications interface, which couples the experimentalcontrols and monitoring devices to a network; and

a teaching setup at a teaching facility remote from the laboratory site,including:

a second communications interface coupled to exchange data via thenetwork with the first communications interface;

a display, which receives and displays the information captured by theone or more monitoring devices; and

a physical representation of at least a part of an experimental setup,including at least one of the experimental controls, so that an operatorat the teaching facility controls an aspect of the experiment at thelaboratory site using the physical representation, and receives resultsof the experiment by means of the display.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a computer at the laboratory site,which operates the one or more experimental controls.

Preferably, the one or more experimental controls are operated by asecond operator, other than the operator at the teaching facility.

Preferably, the one or more experimental controls include one of a groupof controls consisting of a rotatable knob, a slideable control, and aswitch.

Alternatively, the one or more monitoring devices include one or morevideo cameras which generate one or more images of the experimentalsetup.

Preferably, the one or more video cameras are operated by the one ormore experimental controls.

Preferably, the one or more experimental controls include one or morerobot positioning devices which adjust the one or more parameters of theexperiment.

Preferably, the display includes a graphic user interface includingcontrols enabling the operator to control the experimental setup.

Alternatively, the graphic user interface includes a graphicalpresentation of the results.

Alternatively, the computer stores the results of the experiment.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a computer at the teaching facilitywhich stores the results of the experiment.

Preferably, the experimental setup includes a plurality of substantiallyindependent experiments.

Alternatively, a second operator, other than the operator at theteaching facility, controls the aspect of the experimental setup.

Preferably, the apparatus includes apparatus at the teaching facilitywhich is used in conjunction with the experimental setup to makeexperimental measurements.

Alternatively, the laboratory site is remote from the Earth's surface.

There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, apparatus for performing an experiment at ateaching facility using an experimental setup at a laboratory siteremote from the facility, the experimental setup including one or moreexperimental controls for varying one or more parameters of theexperiment, one or more monitoring devices which capture informationrelating to the experiment, and a first communications interface whichcouples the experimental controls and monitoring devices to a network,the apparatus including:

a second communications interface, coupled to exchange data via thenetwork with the first communications interface,

a display, which receives and displays the information captured by theone or more monitoring devices in order to enable a numericalmeasurement to be made, and

a physical representation of at least a part of the experimental setup,including at least one of the experimental controls, so that an operatorat the teaching facility controls an aspect of the experiment at thelaboratory site using the physical representation, and receives resultsof the experiment by means of the display.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a computer at the laboratory site,which operates the one or more experimental controls.

Preferably, the one or more experimental controls are operated by asecond operator, other than the operator at the teaching facility.

Alternatively, the one or more experimental controls include one of agroup of controls consisting of a rotatable knob, a slideable control,and a switch.

Alternatively, the one or more monitoring devices include one or morevideo cameras which generate one or more images of the experimentalsetup.

Preferably, the one or more video cameras are operated by the one ormore experimental controls.

Preferably, the one or more experimental controls include one or morerobot positioning devices which adjust the one or more parameters of theexperiment.

Preferably, the display includes a graphic user interface includingcontrols enabling the operator to control the experimental setup.

Alternatively, the graphic user interface includes a graphicalpresentation of the results.

Preferably, the computer stores the results of the experiment.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a computer at the teaching facilitywhich stores the results of the experiment.

Preferably, the experimental setup includes a plurality of substantiallyindependent experiments.

Alternatively, a second operator, other than the operator at theteaching facility, controls the aspect of the experimental setup.

Alternatively, the apparatus includes apparatus at the teaching facilitywhich is used in conjunction with the experimental setup to makeexperimental measurements.

Alternatively, the laboratory site is remote from the Earth's surface.

There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, a method for performing an experiment using anexperimental setup at a laboratory site having one or more experimentalcontrols for varying one or more parameters of the experiment, whilecontrolling and monitoring the experiment at a teaching facility remotefrom the laboratory site, including:

providing one or more experimental controls and one or more monitoringdevices at the laboratory site;

providing a physical representation of at least a part of theexperimental setup, including at least one of the experimental controls,at the teaching facility;

responsive to operation of the physical representation of theexperimental controls at the teaching facility, exchanging data betweenthe laboratory site and the teaching facility via a network so as tovary one or more parameters of the experiment;

capturing information relating to the experiment using one or moremonitoring devices at the laboratory site; and

transferring the captured information over the network for display atthe teaching facility.

Preferably, exchanging data between the laboratory site and the teachingsite includes allocating a level of access for the operation of thephysical representation.

Preferably, providing the one or more experimental controls includesoperating the one or more experimental controls by a computer at thelaboratory site.

Preferably, the operation of the physical representation is performed byat least one operator.

Alternatively, capturing information includes generating one or moreimages of the experimental setup.

Preferably, providing the one or more monitoring devices includesproviding one or more video cameras which are operated by the one ormore experimental controls.

Alternatively, providing the one or more experimental controls includesproviding one or more robot positioning devices which adjust the one ormore experimental controls.

Preferably, transferring the captured information includes displaying agraphic user interface including controls enabling the operator tocontrol the experimental setup.

Preferably, transferring the captured information includes storing theresults of the experiment in the computer.

Alternatively, transferring the captured information includes storingthe results of the experiment in a computer at the teaching facility.

Alternatively, the method includes providing apparatus at the teachingfacility which is used in conjunction with the experimental setup tomake experimental measurements.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, takentogether with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a remote laboratory system,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing a method of operation of the remotelaboratory system of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a graphic user interface used inthe system of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a remote laboratory system,according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a remote laboratory system,according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a remote laboratory system,according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a remote laboratory system 10,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A localfacility 12, most preferably a teaching facility, is utilized by anexperiment operator 14 present in the facility in order to operatesystem 10. Also present in facility 12 is an industry-standard computer22, comprising a central processing unit 21 and a memory 23, whichoperates an audio-visual display 26. Preferably, operator 14 uses apointing device 24 to interact with computer 22 and display 26 in orderto operate the computer. Most preferably, computer 22 communicates witha distributed network 28 such as the Internet, so acting as acommunications interface with the network. A simulator device 16, whichis a physical representation of at least a part of an experimental setup50 described in detail hereinbelow, is present in local facility 12, andis connected to computer 22. Simulator 16 comprises one or more localcontrols 18 that are physically manipulable by operator 14, whichmanipulation generates a respective value of a signal corresponding to aposition of the respective control, so that the operator is able tomanipulate controls 18 and thereby operate setup 50.

An experimental setup 50 is installed and operates in a remote facility32, which facility is physically separate from local facility 12. Setup50 comprises an industry-standard controlling computer 34 which operatesexperimental equipment 36 on an automatic or semi-automatic basis, andwhich receives information generated by the equipment. Computer 34 mostpreferably comprises a central processing unit 33 and a memory 35.Equipment 36, described and exemplified in more detail hereinbelow,comprises one or more controls 38, which correspond to respectivecontrols 18 of simulator 16. Preferably, the one or more controls 18 arephysically similar to their respective controls 38. For example, ifcontrols 38 comprise a rotatable knob, a slideable control, and aswitch, which might be used to adjust a potentiometer, a rheostat and acircuit breaker, controls 18 respectively comprise a rotatable knob, aslideable control, and a switch. It will be appreciated that sincecontrols 18 simulate respective controls 38, the one or more controls 18may be physically different from their respective controls 38.

Preferably, setup 50 further comprises one or more equipment-observingvideo cameras 42, which are used to generate video images of details ofequipment 36, and one or more setup-observing cameras 44 which are usedto generate video images of the overall arrangement of setup 50.Preferably, cameras 42 and 44 are mounted on positioning devices whichmay be remotely controlled by commands issued by computer 34, by methodsknown in the art. Thus computer 34 and cameras 42 and 44 act asmonitoring devices for setup 50. Optionally, setup 50 comprises one ormore robot positioning devices 48 that are used in addition to controls38 in order to operate equipment 36. Alternatively, at least some ofcontrols 38 or devices 48 may be operated by a human controller atremote facility 32. Cameras 42 and 44, and devices 48 are controlled bycomputer 34, which communicates with network 28, acting as acommunications interface with the network, and which also, mostpreferably, operates as an overall controller for system 10.

Equipment 36 preferably comprises industry-standard apparatus which isused to make measurements and output values of physical phenomena, whichapparatus is typically used in a teaching laboratory environment. Mostpreferably, equipment 36 comprises a data logger coupled to one or moreappropriate measuring probes, such as the Multilog system and associatedprobes produced by Fourier Systems of Petah Tiqva, Israel. Alternativelyor additionally, equipment 36 comprises apparatus that can be providedby a recognized supplier of laboratory apparatus for teachingfacilities, such as apparatus listed in the “Fisher Science Education98/99” catalog published by Fisher Science Education of Burr Ridge,Ill., which is incorporated herein by reference. If necessary, equipment36 is adapted by methods known to those skilled in the art so as to beoperable by computer 34. Alternatively or additionally, equipment 36comprises apparatus which is partially or totally constructed frompurpose-built and/or industry-standard components, for the purpose ofmaking scientific measurements. Most preferably, equipment 36 isoperable by computer 36 without the intervention of a human controllerat facility 32. Optionally, at least some of the operations needed foroperation of equipment 36, such as powering the equipment on orresetting the equipment, may be performed by the controller of facility32. Most preferably, during operation of facility 32, if operator 14encounters difficulties or has questions, operator 14 is able to contactthe controller of facility 32 in order to resolve the difficulties orreceive help.

Some examples of equipment 36 are described hereinbelow:

Example 1: Equipment 36 comprises a spectrophotometer which measures avisible spectral absorption of a material placed by robot positioningdevice 48 in the spectrophotometer.

Example 2: Equipment 36 comprises a fixed resistor wherein values ofcurrent may be determined responsive to known electric potentials placedacross the resistor, so that Ohm's law may be verified.

Example 3: Equipment 36 comprises a cart which is able to roll down aninclined plane, wherein motion of the cart may be analyzed. Mostpreferably an angle of the plane is adjustable by a first robot device48,and the cart is positioned at the top of the plane by a second robotdevice 48.

Example 4: Equipment 36 comprises standard equipment for finding ameasure of G, the universal gravitational constant. The equipmentcomprises a first pair of masses connected by a rod, wherein the rod issuspended from its center by a quartz fiber acting, as torsion balance.A deflection of the rod is produced by robot device 48 bringing a secondpair of masses into proximity with the first pair of masses.

Example 5: Equipment 36 comprises a simple pendulum for finding anacceleration of gravity at facility 32. The bob of the pendulum isdeflected by robot device 48, and the experiment is started by device 48releasing the bob.

Other examples of equipment 36 will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing a method of operation of remotelaboratory system 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. In an initial step, operator 14 establishes a connectionbetween local facility 12 and remote facility 32. Most preferably, theconnection is established by operator 14 using an industry-standardweb-browser and entering a site address for facility 32. Optionally,operator 14 also transmits details such as a password or a user name tocomputer 34, wherein a decision is made of a level of access to setup 50that is to be granted to operator 14. Most preferably, operator 14 isgranted “full access,” wherein the operator is able to adjustsubstantially all controls of facility 32 operated by computer 34 viacommands transmitted from the operator to computer 34. Other levels ofaccess, described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 5,are “partial access” wherein a person accessing remote facility 32 isgiven access to at least some of the controls of facility 32 operated bycomputer 34 connection to the operation of remote facility 32, and“observer access” wherein a person accessing remote facility 32 is givenno access to the controls, but can observe equipment 36 in operation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a graphic user interface (GUI) 60,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. GUI 60 ismost preferably generated by computer 34 in one of the standard browserformats such as HTML, and after operator 14 has accessed facility 32,the user interface is transmitted to facility 12 via network 28 and ispresented on display 26. GUI 60 comprises a view region 62 which mostpreferably shows a real-time image generated by one of cameras 42 or 44.A view-control region 64 comprises controls which enable operator 14 tochoose a specific camera from cameras 42 or cameras 44 to control, andto adjust the viewing direction and/or other camera parameters such asmagnification of the specific camera. The controls operate bytransmitting signals from computer 22 via network 28 to computer 34. Thecontrols in region 64 are preferably enabled and activated usingpointing device 24, although any other method known in the art may alsobe used.

GUI 60 also comprises an experimental control region 66, whichpreferably includes setup controls that enable operator 14 to maintainan overall control of equipment 36. Preferably, region 66 comprises oneor more controls enabling operator 14 to select an initial configurationof equipment 36, for example, a value of a resistor if the experiment isa verification of Ohm's law as described in example 2 above, or a slopeat which an inclined plane is set if the experiment is to measure anobject rolling down the plane as described in example 3 above.Preferably, the controls in region 66 comprise a start/reset controlwhich operator 14 can use to initialize equipment 36 and then begin anexperiment. Optionally, region 66 comprises controls which duplicatelocal controls 18. A parameter region 68 comprises experimentalparameters which indicate a state of equipment 36, which parameters aretransmitted from computer 34. For example, experimental parameters whichmay be included in region 68 are a local time at facility 32, datareceived by computer 34 relating to the experiment, and data describinga configuration of equipment 36, which configuration is preferably setusing controls in region 66 and local controls 18.

GUI 60 further comprises an analysis region 63, wherein operator 14 isable to generate analyses of the experiment being performed. Preferably,region 63 comprises graphical and/or numerical analysis of theexperimental results, which analysis is most preferably provided by astandard software analysis product such as DB-Lab, produced by FourierSystems of Petah Tiqva, Israel.

Returning to FIG. 2, once operator 14 has obtained access to facility32, the operator sets up equipment 36 using GUI 60, and/or localcontrols 18. In a run step operator 14 runs the experiment by usingcontrols 18 and/or setup controls comprised in region 66. For example,in a verification of Ohm's law, as described in example 2 above, one ofcontrols 18 is set by system 10 to control an electric potential acrossthe resistor. Preferably, the value of the resistor is chosen bycontrols within region 66. As control 18 is manipulated by operator 14,the potential across the resistor is altered by computer 34 responsiveto the manipulation, and values of potential and current through theresistor are transmitted to computer 22 which presents the values asdata in region 68. Most preferably, manipulation of a specific control18 by operator 14 causes computer 34 to generate a correspondingmanipulation of the corresponding control 38 of equipment 36, whichmanipulation is preferably visible in an image generated by at least oneof cameras 42 and/or cameras 44. Optionally, data generated during theexperiment by manipulation of control 18 is stored in anindustry-standard data base in memory 23 of computer 22, and/or inmemory 35 of computer 34, which stored data may be utilized by operator14 at some later time.

In an analysis step operator 14 utilizes the experimental data toperform an analysis of the experiment, and to draw one or moreexperimental conclusions. The data used may be data stored in memory 23or memory 35, or alternatively, the analysis is performed with datatransmitted to computer 22 at the time the experiment is performed. Thedata may be analyzed or presented in a form different from that outputin interface 60, using methods known in the art. For example, the datamay be used to generate one or more graphs, and the graphs may beanalyzed to calculate parameters such as slope, regression coefficients,or intercepts of the graph. Most preferably, the data is displayedon-line in region 63 using a data analysis software package such asDB-Lab. In a conclusion step one or more conclusions regarding theexperiment are drawn from the data and the analysis of the data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an arrangement 80 for setting upan experiment, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Computer 34 is connected to and is able to control aplurality of experimental setups 50′, 50″, 50′″, . . . , wherein eachsetup 50′, 50″, 50′″, . . . , is constructed and operates substantiallyas described above for experimental setup 50. Preferably, at least someof experimental setups 50′, 50″, 50′″ comprise substantially identicalexperimental etups. For example, setup 50′ and setup 50″ both compriseequipment to verify Ohm's law. Alternatively or additionally, at leastsome of experiments 50′, 50″, 50′″ comprise different experimentalsetups. For example, setup 50′″ comprises equipment to measure thegravitational constant G. Optionally, at least some of experiments 50′,50″, 50′″ not within facility 32, and are physically remote fromfacility 32 and facility 12, while still being under overall control ofcomputer 34. Most preferably, operator 14 in facility 12 is able tochoose which setup to access, and hence which experiment to perform,from a menu presented in user interface 60.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an arrangement 90 for performingan experiment, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Operator 14 accesses and operates experimental setup50 as described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. In addition asecond operator 13 establishes a connection with computer 34 and withexperimental setup 50 via network 28. Preferably, operator 13 uses acomputer 22′ and a display 26′, which are respectively substantiallysimilar in operation to computer 22 and display 26, so that operator 13receives a GUI 60′ which is substantially similar in operation to GUI 60received by operator 14. Operator 13 may operate independently ofoperator 14, or the two operators may operate cooperatively, preferablyby communicating via network 28.

Most preferably, operator 13 is able to activate and adjust at leastsome of controls 64 and/or controls 66 (FIG. 3). For example, ifoperator 13 has been granted partial access to facility 32 and isoperating independently of operator 14, operator 13 may select and thenadjust a specific camera 44 in order to observe an aspect of experiment36 as desired by operator 13. Thus operator 13 may observe setup 50while the experiment is being run by operator 14. Alternatively, ifoperator 13 and operator 14 are operating on a cooperative basis,equipment 36 may be operated by operator 13 controlling some of theparameters of the equipment via GUI 60′, while operator 14 controls someof the other experiment parameters via GUI 60.

Alternatively, operator 13 has a control 18′, connected to computer 22′substantially as described above for control 18 and computer 22, andoperator 13 is granted full access to facility 32. Most preferablyexperimental setup 50 is operated by operator 14 using one or morespecific controls 18 to control some of controls 38, and operator 13using one or more specific controls 18′ to control other controls 38, sothat the experiment is performed on a cooperative basis. Furtheralternatively, operator 13 is granted observer access to facility 32, inwhich case operator 13 is able to receive experimental data as operator14 operates the experiment, but operator 13 is not able to adjustcontrols of the experiment. It will be appreciated that in arrangement90 operator 13 and operator 14 may be in the same facility 12, or may bein different facilities.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an arrangement 100 for performingan experiment, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In arrangement 100 a plurality of operators 102communicate via network 28 with computer 34, substantially as describedabove for operators 13 and 14 in arrangement 90. Computer 34 acts as anoverall controller for a plurality of experimental setups 104,substantially as described above for experimental setups 50′, 50″, and50′″ in arrangement 80. Preferably, the plurality of operators issignificantly larger than the plurality of experimental setups, in whichcase each experiment is controlled by a different operator, andoperators who are not controlling an experiment are able to view theexperimental setups as described above. Alternatively, operators who arenot controlling an experimental setup are able to reserve a time whenthe experiment will be made available for their use. For example,computer 34 can maintain a database whereby operators are able to seewhich operators are operating a specific experiment, and whereinoperators are able to enter their names in order to perform theexperiment at some future time.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, local facility 12 comprises apparatus which is used inconjunction with equipment 36 at facility 32 in order to makeexperimental measurements. For example, if equipment 36 comprises thesimple pendulum experiment as described above with reference to example5, the period of the pendulum may be found from timing measurementsperformed at local facility 12. Such timing measurements may begenerated using a clock 25 comprised in computer 22, or by any othertiming apparatus known in the art.

While the preferred embodiments described above have utilized specificremote experiments and situations, it will be appreciated that theprinciples of remote laboratories described hereinabove may be appliedto other experimental setups. For example, experiments which involvedanger to the experiment operator, such as operating with high voltageelectricity or radioactive material, may be safely performed as a remotelaboratory according to the principles described above. Experimentswhich are performed in difficult or hazardous environments, such asexperiments which need to be performed in a high vacuum, and/or undertemperatures which are very high and/or very low, may also beincorporated into the experimental setup. Experiments which involve theuse of rare and/or expensive materials, such as an experiment tonon-destructively analyze the composition of a moon rock, can be setupas the remote experiment. It will also be appreciated that the remoteexperiment does not need to be terrestrially based, so that the remotefacility may be sited in an Earth-orbiting satellite or any site remotefrom the Earth's surface.

It will be further appreciated that the preferred embodiments describedabove are cited by way of example. The full scope of the invention islimited only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Teaching apparatus, comprising: an experimentalsetup at a laboratory site comprising: one or more experimental controlsfor varying one or more parameters of an experiment performed by theexperimental setup; one or more monitoring devices, which captureinformation relating to the experiment; and a first communicationsinterface, which couples the experimental controls and monitoringdevices to a network; and a teaching setup at a teaching facility remotefrom the laboratory site, comprising: a second communications interface,coupled to exchange data via the network with the first communicationsinterface; a display, which receives and displays the informationcaptured by the one or more monitoring devices; and a physicalrepresentation of at least a part of an experimental setup, including atleast one of the experimental controls, so that an operator at theteaching facility controls an aspect of the experiment at the laboratorysite using the physical representation, and receives results of theexperiment by means of the display.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1,and comprising a computer at the laboratory site, which operates the oneor more experimental controls.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the computer stores the results of the experiment.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the one or more experimental controls areoperated by a second operator, other than the operator at the teachingfacility.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or moreexperimental controls comprise one of a group of controls consisting ofa rotatable knob, a slideable control, and a switch.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the one or more monitoring devicescomprise one or more video cameras which generate one or more images ofthe experimental setup.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theone or more video cameras are operated by the one or more experimentalcontrols.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or moreexperimental controls comprise one or more robot positioning deviceswhich adjust the one or more parameters of the experiment.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a graphic userinterface comprising controls enabling the operator to control theexperimental setup.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thegraphic user interface comprises a graphical presentation of theresults.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a computerat the teaching facility which stores the results of the experiment. 12.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the experimental setup comprisesa plurality of substantially independent experiments.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein a second operator, other than the operatorat the teaching facility, controls the aspect of the experimental setup.14. Apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising apparatus at theteaching facility which is used in conjunction with the experimentalsetup to make experimental measurements.
 15. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the laboratory site is remote from the Earth's surface.16. Apparatus for performing an experiment at a teaching facility usingan experimental setup at a laboratory site remote from the facility, theexperimental setup including one or more experimental controls forvarying one or more parameters of the experiment, one or more monitoringdevices which capture information relating to the experiment, and afirst communications interface which couples the experimental controlsand monitoring devices to a network, the apparatus comprising: a secondcommunications interface, coupled to exchange data via the network withthe first communications interface; a display, which receives anddisplays the information captured by the one or more monitoring devicesin order to enable a numerical measurement to be made; and a physicalrepresentation of at least a part of the experimental setup, includingat least one of the experimental controls, so that an operator at theteaching facility controls an aspect of the experiment at the laboratorysite using the physical representation, and receives results of theexperiment by means of the display.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16,and comprising a computer at the laboratory site, which operates the oneor more experimental controls.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17,wherein the computer stores the results of the experiment.
 19. Apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the one or more experimental controls areoperated by a second operator, other than the operator at the teachingfacility.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one or moreexperimental controls comprise one of a group of controls consisting ofa rotatable knob, a slideable control, and a switch.
 21. Apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the one or more monitoring devicescomprise one or more video cameras which generate one or more images ofthe experimental setup.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein theone or more video cameras are operated by the one or more experimentalcontrols.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one or moreexperimental controls comprise one or more robot positioning deviceswhich adjust the one or more parameters of the experiment.
 24. Apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the display comprises a graphic userinterface comprising controls enabling the operator to control theexperimental setup.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein thegraphic user interface comprises a graphical presentation of theresults.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 16, and comprising a computerat the teaching facility which stores the results of the experiment. 27.Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the experimental setupcomprises a plurality of substantially independent experiments. 28.Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a second operator, other thanthe operator at the teaching facility, controls the aspect of theexperimental setup.
 29. Apparatus according to claim 16, and comprisingapparatus at the teaching facility which is used in conjunction with theexperimental setup to make experimental measurements.
 30. Apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the laboratory site is remote from theEarth's surface.
 31. A method for performing an experiment using anexperimental setup at a laboratory site having one or more experimentalcontrols for varying one or more parameters of the experiment, whilecontrolling and monitoring the experiment at a teaching facility remotefrom the laboratory site, comprising: providing one or more experimentalcontrols and one or more monitoring devices at the laboratory site;providing a physical representation of at least a part of theexperimental setup, including at least one of the experimental controls,at the teaching facility; responsive to operation of the physicalrepresentation of the experimental controls at the teaching facility,exchanging data between the laboratory site and the teaching facilityvia a network so as to vary one or more parameters of the experiment;capturing information relating to the experiment using one or moremonitoring devices at the laboratory site; and transferring the capturedinformation over the network for display at the teaching facility.
 32. Amethod according to claim 31, wherein exchanging data between thelaboratory site and the teaching site comprises allocating a level ofaccess for the operation of the physical representation.
 33. A methodaccording to claim 31, wherein providing the one or more experimentalcontrols comprises operating the one or more experimental controls by acomputer at the laboratory site.
 34. A method according to claim 31,wherein the operation of the physical representation is performed by atleast one operator.
 35. A method according to claim 31, whereincapturing information comprises generating one or more images of theexperimental setup.
 36. A method according to claim 31, whereinproviding the one or more monitoring devices comprises providing one ormore video cameras which are operated by the one or more experimentalcontrols.
 37. A method according to claim 31, wherein providing the oneor more experimental controls comprises providing one or more robotpositioning devices which adjust the one or more experimental controls.38. A method according to claim 31, wherein transferring the capturedinformation comprises displaying a graphic user interface comprisingcontrols enabling the operator to control the experimental setup.
 39. Amethod according to claim 33, wherein transferring the capturedinformation comprises storing the results of the experiment in thecomputer.
 40. A method according to claim 31, wherein transferring thecaptured information comprises storing the results of the experiment ina computer at the teaching facility.
 41. A method according to claim 31,and comprising providing apparatus at the teaching facility which isused in conjunction with the experimental setup to make experimentalmeasurements.